Bertie Ahern
Ceist:4 Mr. B. Ahern asked the Taoiseach the number of EU Heads of Government he has met bilaterally since September 1995, with a view to the preparation of Ireland's EU Presidency. [2972/96]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Ireland's EU Presidency.
Since 1 September 1995 I have had substantial bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Gonzalez of Spain, Prime Minister Dini of Italy, Prime Minister Major of the United Kingdom and Prime Minister Juncker of Luxembourg. I also had a short bilateral meeting with President Chirac of France.
In addition I have attended a meeting of the European Council in Madrid and an informal meeting of EU Heads of State and Government in Majorca. These meetings have been concerned to a greater or lesser degree with the ongoing agenda of the European Union. As a primary responsibility of the Irish Presidency will be to administer this ongoing agenda the meetings have helped to contribute to preparations for our Presidency.
As the Deputy is aware, I have reported to the House on most of these meetings. In particular I reported on 24 January to the House on my meeting with Prime Minister Dini of Italy on 17 January last. Since Italy currently holds the Presidency of the European Union this was an exceptionally important and useful meeting in the context of preparations for the Irish Presidency.
What are the Taoiseach's planned objectives for the Irish Presidency of the European Union following the meetings to which he referred? With particular reference to economic and monetary union — bearing in mind the doubts and concerns expressed by the French and German Governments and leaders in recent weeks — what way does the Taoiseach intend to persuade both the Intergovernmental Conference and the Heads of State to make progress during our Presidency?
I already answered that question on a number of occasions in the House. As far as the general objectives of our Presidency are concerned, we would wish to see the Intergovernmental Conference effectively advance preparations for enlargement of the European Union and the requisite institutional changes to accommodate its enlargement. In particular we would need to see a strengthening of pillar III so that a problem of major concern to us, that of drugs and the crime associated therewith, can be tackled on a Europe-wide basis. We would also want to see improvement in the Community's performance on the whole issue of employment. As the House is aware, the Commission, the ECOFIN and Social Affairs Ministers will report to the Dublin Summit in December next on the employment issue which will provide us with a major focus. On the drugs question specifically, the expert group which reported to the Madrid Summit has set out a programme of detailed work on what we can do to tackle the drugs problem. While that matter is being given to the Italian and Irish presidencies to carry forward, until we ascertain exactly where matters stand at the time we take over the Presidency, it is impossible to be any more precise about our objectives. For example, some of the work with which we might expect to have to deal may be dealt with during the Italian Presidency or, conversely, some work we might expect the Italians to deal with may not have been dealt with at that stage and may have to be taken forward into our Presidency. Therefore, it is not possible to give any more precise statement on our objectives at this stage.
I should also like to inform the House that the Government has already established its inter-ministerial committee to prepare for our Presidency, which is meeting regularly, working to the agenda coming through, in order to be fully prepared logistically and politically for the issues we must take on within the six months of our Presidency. Of course, there will also be a number of external relations challenges to the European Union during our Presidency, one foreseeable one being the aftermath of the Russian Presidential election, when relations with Central and Eastern Europe at a political level will be of considerable importance. In addition, the development of the transatlantic dialogue will be very important to the European Union. Ireland has a record of working in that area. For example, there are suggestions for extending the transatlantic dialogue to include Canada and Mexico, issues in which we would also be taking an interest. However, it is impossible at this stage to be any more precise because we do not know exactly what stage that work will have reached by the time we take over.
The last time we touched on the subject of the agenda for the Intergovernmental Conference the Taoiseach listed a number of items similar to those he mentioned today. I availed of that opportunity, and do so again today, of saying how disappointed I am that, on reflection, he has still not included a major element of our Presidency — the whole question of the environment — which was one of the great successes of our last, "green Presidency", as it was known. Since this is a very important issue to the electorate, will the Taoiseach review his agenda and include the environment as a priority issue on the agenda of our Presidency?
Well, the Minister for the Environment is sitting beside me——
He is working——
——and, no doubt, will have a number of initiatives to advance in that area. He is also working on the agenda already in place on environmental questions. I might advise Deputy Burke, who is obviously very interested in green issues, to address a question to the Minister for the Environment who will furnish him with an extensive indication of the likely agenda for the second six months of the year when he will chair the European Council of Environment Ministers.
While I look forward to addressing a series of questions to all Ministers on their respective agendas, I was really seeking the priorities of Government in this matter. In regard to the enlargement of the European Union and the agenda of the Intergovernmental Conference, what is the Taoiseach's stance on neutrality vis-à-vis such discussions he has already had?
The time for dealing with questions to the Taoiseach is almost exhausted. I must appeal for brevity at this stage.
The issue just mentioned by Deputy Burke is one of those central to the considerations of the Intergovernmental Conference as the whole question of European security is one of great concern to many member states.
As far as the environmental agenda is concerned, the Deputy might reflect on the fact that the big proposal in Europe in recent years was the introduction of a green tax, a tax on carbon fuels. I would be less than honest with the Deputy if I did not tell him that that proposal is running into immense difficulties, that there are a large number of countries that object quite profoundly to it. There are also many interests in this country, for example, in the midlands, where turf production provides a very important part of people's livelihoods and where they would be deeply concerned about it, as, no doubt, would those who derive their employment from the generation of electricity. It is not an easy question. Perhaps when Deputy Burke is framing his questions to the Minister for the Environment he might assist us all by letting us know where he stands on the green tax.
What Ministers serve on the inter-ministerial subcommittee?
All the relevant Ministers who should serve on it——
Proinsias De Rossa and big mirrors, no doubt.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, the Minister for Trade and Tourism, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment——
——the Minister for Social Welfare.
——the Minister for Social Welfare, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Finance and myself.
The Minister for the Environment was not mentioned.
He is not relevant.
That must be the end of questions to the Taoiseach for today. Deputies must find another way of raising such matters. I am now proceeding to questions nominated for priority.